HC Deb 10 November 2003 vol 413 cc10-1W
Mr. Djanogly

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reviews have been undertaken in each of the last three years of renewable energy schemes in Cambridgeshire; and what the associated cost to public funds was of the reviews. [134871]

Mr. Timms

I have been asked to reply.

During 1999, Government Offices were asked to facilitate the production of studies into the potential for generation of renewable energy in their region. For the East of England, the findings were made available towards the end of 2000. The cost of professional assistance for the Region as a whole was about £50,000, but it is not realistic to apportion this across the six counties concerned.

Subsequently, Government Offices were invited to bid for monies for a two year period from March 2002 to raise awareness and activity on renewable energy generation with special reference to the planning system. For the East of England, the sum involved is around £250,000, with other matched funds, but again this cannot be taken down to county level.